The Best Food in Krakow, Poland
When it comes to Polish food, you may be surprised by how incredibly delicious it is!! While there are some expensive restaurants in the city, the majority of restaurants you will find will not break your budget. Since there are 100’s of restaurants in the city, it’s hard to determine which ones are worth visiting and what to try. Well, you’re in luck! We’ve compiled a list of the best food to eat and where to find them!
#1 - Perogies
Everybody knows what perogies are. They are dumplings filled with cottage cheese, potato and onion, meat, mushrooms, as well as sweet ones, such as chocolate, cherries, and strawberries and cream. The savoury ones are usually served with fried onions and fresh sour cream. Additionally, they can be boiled or pan fried. They can be shared as a starter or have as a meal. Personally, I like both.
#2 - Borscht
Borscht is another traditional Polish food. It is a warm beetroot soup that sometimes contains meat, vegetables, or dumplings. We only saw ones that were broth-based, so we are unsure if that is the more traditional way of eating borscht. It’s sour soup, but it’s also savoury. Eat with warm bread, and you’ll feel more refreshed and ready to continue your trip.
#3 - Kotlet Schabowy
Often compared to a traditional schnitzel, kotlet schabowy is a thicker pork cutlet that is breaded and pan-fried. It tastes more buttery and tender than schnitzel, and it is usually served with potatoes and beets. However, many restaurants here let you pick your sides. Very nice and definetely worth it to try.
#4 - Kluski Slaskie
These are potato dumplings. If you’ve been to Germany or eaten at a German restaurant, you’ve probably had this before. They are more gummy in texture, so don’t expect whole pieces of potato in these dumplings. This is because they are usually made using potato starch and are pounded when cooking. Not our personal favourites, but many people love them.
#5 - Zurek
This one was surprising. It’s Polish sour soup, so I was expecting to not like this much. I was SO wrong! This is a savoury-sour soup that has hard boiled eggs, meat (usually sausage), potatoes, vegetables, herbs, fermented rye, and cream. It’s not as sour as the name suggests, but you do have a slight aftertaste, like sauerkraut. Very nice and highly suggest it!
#6 - Zrazy
Zrazy was created in the 14th century for royals and other nobility. It is slow-cooked beef that is stuffed with pickled vegetables ranging from sauerkraut, gherkins, mushroom, and onions. It’s traditionally covered in a savoury tomato sauce or gravy. Great for those who like tender meaty dishes with vinegary flavours.
#7 - Polish Sausage
Most people will be familiar with Polish sausages. It takes the majority of shelves at grocery stores throughout the US… and for good reason… it’s the best! Even though I’m part-English, I will be the first to admit I don’t like British sausage (I know - sacrilegious). Polish sausage is more smoky and savoury that doesn’t contain much additives. It’s full of flavour and is what you want out of sausage. We found one of the most creative ways to have Polish sausage at The DOG Food Truck in Kazimierz. You can find loads of toppings, from more traditional sauerkraut, to mac and cheese, to BBQ pulled pork.
#8 - Zapiekanka
This has become a very popular street food for locals. It’s basically pizza on a baguette. You can find it will endless toppings, but we like just the more traditional pizza toppings. You may think something like this would cost a lot, but zapiekanka usually cost just $3 or less. Crazy considering we couldn’t finish ours. It’s a very reasonable deal for a quick lunch in the city.
#9 - Polish Pastries
There are a lot of varieties when it comes to Polish pastries. You can find items, such as paczki, makowiec, sernik, as well as classic twists on crossaints, danishes, and cinnamon rolls. There are bakeries at every corner of the city, so you are sure to find something you like nearby.
#10 - Szarlotka
Lastly, there is a Polish take on classic apple pie. We swear this is better than the good ole’ American apple pie in some ways. It differs from restaurant to restaurant, but some consistent things about szarlotka is the crust and less sugar than American apple pie. It can sometimes contain raisins and other dried fruit in the filling, but it can also just contain sliced apples, like the one in the image. Definetely a nice sweet treat while on your visit. See for yourself if you think it rivals American apple pie!
Where Are the Best Restaurants to Try These Foods?
There were SOOOO many good restaurants in Krakow. There were also some not-so-great ones. Here is our personal list of the best restaurants in Krakow:
Bar Namaxa = They serve amazing (and reasonable) zapiekanka
THE DOG Food Truck = Fun and creative takes on Polish sausages
Restauracja Smakołyki = Honestly, anything here. We found their zurek and kotlet schabowy to be particularly phenominal
The Black Duck = Oh my gosh! I still dream of their perogies. Be sure to get their platter that serves all the flavours
Pod Aniołami Restaurant = Excellent restaurant serving traditional Polish food in a posh setting
